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THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH . . .
this mantra guided me through the birth of two children. I think about it frequently: the knowledge that there would be intense sensation in the act of birthing new life into this world - a reality that can be applied to all kinds of unimaginable circumstances - but we are ultimately capable of handling the intensity. In fact, pain and / or discomfort can be in service to (and in many cases are necessary for) birthing something beautiful.
At the time, I understood that the task at hand was to simultaneously build a web of support to help shepherd me through the uncertainty (things like working with midwives and having a friend organize a meal train) and to also trust in my own abilities to work in tandem with the forces of nature to perform their part in the magic - a wisdom much more fine tuned that what my thirty-two years on Earth could offer. To surrender to something bigger than what was in my control. I had to accept that there was no guarantee everything would work out, and put my faith and hope and gratitude in the chance that it could. It yielded magic beyond my wildest beliefs - beyond any rational thoughts of how I could be a critical part of gestating new life, that my body could build organs to function without my input, and a brain that would form its own thoughts. Magic.
As we look more broadly to birthing new ways of living in this world - composting the decomposing systems that no longer serve us and digesting them to nourish new life - it will require the same process. Just like birthing a baby, or preparing for the transition of yourself or a loved one out of this life, or surrendering to the many acts of creation and death in between those two things...we can't put off the process forever. Labor will ultimately come whether we are ready or not, so the question is: how can we help each other get ready? What does support look like?
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."
This Jewish wisdom from the Pirkei Avot articulates a continuous struggle we've been witnessing. In a world broken down by binary thinking, we see so many of us ping-ponging from the competing narratives of: 'you alone are responsible for making a difference' to 'what you do does not matter because the system holds all the power.'
The answer, of course, lies in the gray area between these two extremes: because you alone can't fix all of the ills of the world on your own, you cannot hold the intensity of the process all by yourself. And yet your participation matters. In fact your participation - our collective participation - is the very thing that can birth a new way of life.
The first task at hand is to cast the strands that build our webs of support. Help people and ask for help. Repeat again and again. It's that simple (just remember that simple does not mean easy - see that bit above about productive pain and discomfort).
Your web of support is the thing that will allow you to keep your eyes, heart, and mind open. You are capable of handling the intensity with your web of support intact. And we can build this new world together. The only way out is through.
In support,
Tay + Dor
photo by Christine Han
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tidbits...
resources on anti-racism, environmentalism and food culture AKA stuff we're reading / listening to / watching / noticing / thinking about / captivated by this Tuesday . . .
Do One Small Thing . . . each week we highlight one small contribution to the type of world we want to live in: How have you asked for help, or given help? Let us know.
Looking forward to the Folkweaver Winter Solstice Zine: Germinating Dreams of Community. For a preview of what to expect, peruse their substack.
Ashtin Berry's How to Build Socio-Political Action Plan may be the single most useful tool for you to dive into moving forward.
If you are unsure of your next steps consider the workshop series How Do I Take Action Where I Am? Sign up for one or multiple options to ground you for your forward movement.
"All of us aspire to live and work in ways that honor and call forth the identity and integrity of those with whom we cross paths." - Parker J. Palmer, for the Center for Courage and Renewal newsletter, which offers a Healing the Heart of Democracy hub where you can explore resources that can help restore the foundations of democracy
"It's not luxurious to take care of your health or enjoy your work; that is a capitalist / patriarchal myth" - Musician and visual artist Grouper for The Creative Independent.
Megan Leatherman, founder of A Wild New Work, offers a free, supportive seasonal journey, Needing More: A 4-week Pilgrimage into Darkness.
"We all have a significant and intrinsic role to play in uprooting racism in the food system, and the good news is that there are many right answers to the questions, “What can I do to help?” " - Soul Fire Farm offers one more Uprooting Racism workshop this Fall/Winter on November 21st.
Also from Soul Fire Farm, Fierce Vulnerability: Healing and Change in a Time of Collapse w/ Kazu Haga on December 3rd.
It takes a community to rebuild after disaster strikes and Community Supported Apparel Co-op is committed to doing as much as they can, starting with this Roots Tee fundraiser with 100% of proceeds going to farms affected by the hurricanes in the Southeast United States.
The First 100 Days, a ritual courtesy of Alexis Pauline Gumbs, invites you to mirror the first hundred days of the next presidential administration as a way to remember and reclaim your power.
The Literary Craft Society believes that writing is more than an act of storytelling; it’s a tool for transformation and change. Join Part 1 of their Writing as a Form of Resistance.
For the first three Sundays in December, join Not Our Farm for Wintering: Mindfulness and Reflection in the Off Season, a virtual class for workers on farms.
View and share this free guide to How to Write a More Equitable Job Post, and stay tuned for new resources to deepen this work.
"Plenty has been written about the economic impact of the pandemic on the food industry, but not enough about its lingering effects on the bodies of people whose mission is to nourish us." Read the latest GFJ Story on the creator behind Anjali's Cup, with words by Nicole J. Caruth and photos by Christine Han.
got a tidbit? drop it here for us and we'll share it in next week's newsletter.
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